Fallen Watermans Foundation

FWF Larson Rescue Story

4/2/2024

February 19th is My Personal September 11th

Looking back on my Ocean Beach, near-death experience in 1970, it amazes me that I still enjoy and participate in open water events.
⦁ Three-time Ironman Finisher including the 2.4-mile swim – check!
⦁ Swim from Alcatraz to San Francisco (Six times in fact) – check!
⦁ Crew for a swimmer successfully crossing the English Channel – check!
⦁ Earn PADI Advanced Diver Certificate on the Conception, two weeks before it caught fire and sunk – check!
⦁ Over 150 swims around the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf – Check!
⦁ Annual participant in the Santa Cruz to Capitola Pier to Pier Paddle – check!
⦁ Rescued by the US Coast Guard at San Francisco’s Ocean Beach – check!

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Backyards Tandem

2/17/2023

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It was a less than stellar day on the North Shore of Oahu with a steady cross wind and occasional showers. My buddy and I decided to paddle out at Backyards since nobody else was out. The waves were still chest high and semi clean and since there was no crowd we were happy with our decision.

We’d been in the water for about an hour when a father and son joined us on their tandem board. The Dad looked like he knew how to paddle so I figured he knew what he was doing except for the fact that his lanky 8 year old son was way to far forward on the board.

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Cronkhite Guardian

2/17/2023

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Dick McLaren was a World War II Army veteran and was awarded the Bronze Star. In his later years he became Fire Chief of San Anselmo in Marin County, CA. He’d grown up in San Anselmo in a bygone era when he and his friends would pass the time by damming up creeks so they’d have a place to fish and play in the water.

The interesting part is that Dick McLaren didn’t know how to swim. In fact, he was sure that it would keep him out of having to fight in World War II. The recruiting officer didn’t hesitate when Dick told him of this major obstacle and put him on the next ship to North Africa.

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Teen Surfers Rescue Two Swept Out by Rip in Trinidad

2/16/2023

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Please see full story on the NCJ: North Coast Journal, Author: Kimberly Wear

Four teenage surfers came to the rescue of a 15 year old and 20 year old who were in severe distress Nov. 11 after being swept out by a rip current off Trinidad State Beach.

According to Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Samantha Karges, a call came in around 1:30 p.m. reporting that the swimmers, both from Shasta County, were in trouble.

The surfers — off-duty California State Parks lifeguard Adrian York and Spenser Stratton, Taj Ortiz-Beck and Narayan Weibel, two of whom were junior lifeguard participants — were able to put the swimmers on their boards and bring them safely to shore in teams of two.

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Talk Story

FWF Larson Rescue Story

Backyards Tandem

Cronkhite Guardian

Teen Surfers Rescue Two Swept Out by Rip in Trinidad